(St. James) M OST OF ri IE EARLIEST Catholic settlers in this area came from Ireland and would have gone to Indian River tor liturgical services. In 1865 they began construction of" their first church which opened for worship the following year under dedication to the Holy Magi. For quite some time the people referred to it as the " Freetown church". Even with their own church, this community still remained a mission of Indian River for over fifty years. In 1918 this area became a parish of its own and the following year the people built a new rectory. Needing more worship space, the parishioners erected the present beautiful church which opened in 1929 and which they dedicated to St. James the Apostle. This structure is truly a gem among our rural churches. From 1918 the parishioners here had their own resident pastor until 1972, shortly after which they sold their parish house. Since the 1970s the pastor at Hope River for a number of years had responsibility also for Parish . In more recent times the parish priest at Kelly's Cross exercises pastoral care here where some sixty families now live. Rich farm lands extend throughout the parish and the pleasant inland scenery especially from the church hill is very grand. 90 Our Parishes